About the program
Begin your healthcare career as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA). As a principal caregiver in a nursing home or hospital, you can interact with people in a positive, caring way while providing quality car.

Our state-approved CNA training will get you into one of the fastest growing occupations in the United States. Wages range from $10 to $13 per hour.

The Adult Bilingual Program provides comprehensive theory and clinical in nursing homes. Upon successful completion of this course, you will be eligible to take the state of Connecticut certification examination.

This program will provide Life skills and ESL classes simultaneously throughout the semester.

Background
The Bilingual C.N.A. Program grew out of two fundamental demographic trends affecting Connecticut. First is the rapid growth in the population of senior citizens in need of direct care. Second is the rapidly increasing Latino population. The Latino community is the fastest growing population group in Connecticut today. Together, these trends have sharply increased the need for direct care workers such as specially trained Certified Nurse Aides. The need is acute for direct care workers who are culturally and linguistically competent.

The program targets Limited English Proficient students in the Greater Waterbury area. The program assesses the English Language skills of the participants to determine that they are sufficient to benefit from the program, and at the same time, not so strong that program would be unnecessary. Applicants who can benefit from the program participate in an ESL class that helps them master the specific English language skills required to work effectively as a Certified Nurse Aide.

Participants in this program are required to devote substantial time and effort to complete the training. Participants may be required to pay for certain out-of-pocket program costs such as registration fees, uniforms, exam fees, and required check-ups and related costs for vaccinations. This program is a collaborative effort involving a prominent local community agency, the Connecticut Technical High School system and long-term care facilities.

Prerequisites:
Before you can register for the CNA program, you must pass a placement test. The placement is provided by New Opportunities, Inc. at 232 North Elm Street, Waterbury, CT during the summer. To make an appointment for the placement test, call Ms. Miriam Vargas at (203) 575- 4397 or visit the agency at the above address. A high school diploma or GED certificate is recommended, but not required.

You must have a social security number to enter the CNA program. This number is required to apply for the state examination.

Course Fees:
The CNA program is covered by the NO, Inc. agency, which provides the training funds for Limited English Proficient students.

Other expenses include fees for physical exam, uniform, and CPR class (optional).

The CNA program meets the regulations of the Connecticut Department of Public Health.

- Physical examination – MANDATORY
Required prior to the fourth week of class: through your personal physician. A physical exam form for the CNA program can be obtained from the Adult Bilingual Education Office at W.F.Kaynor THS. Copy of recent physical will be accepted if physical was within the past six months of beginning date of class and submitted on Kaynor form.
- Tuberculosis skin tests within six months of start of class – MANDATORY
PPD (2-step) skin test prior to going to the clinical experience [4th week of class]
Uniform, white – required for clinical experience
White pants or skirt, white shoes, white shirt.
- Performance Skills
Twenty-one performance skills have been identified through the Connecticut Department of Public Health that gives guidance to the Nurse Aide Competency Evaluation. Students MUST be able to perform all 21 of these performance skills in order to successfully complete the training program.
- Book requirement
Title: Being a Nursing Assistant Textbook, 9th Edition by Pearson; and accompanying workbook.
- State competency written examination
After successful completion of classroom and clinical portion of class. This Exam MUST be taken in order to successfully complete the course and be placed on the Nurse Aide Registry.
- Technical Abilities Required
In order to handle the job responsibilities and tasks assigned to students in the Bilingual Nursing Assistant Program, they must be able to:
• Perform a full range of body motion including handling and lifting patients and moving, lifting, or pushing heavy equipment. Students are required to lift a minimum of 50 pounds, unassisted.
• Bend, reach, pull, push, stoop, and walk repeatedly throughout an eight hour period.
• Demonstrate visual acuity to read small letters and numbers on gauges (with correction, if needed).
• Demonstrate auditory acuity to hear sounds of blood pressures and apical pulses (with correction, if needed).
• Demonstrate bilateral upper extremity fine motor shills, including manual and finger dexterity and eye-hand coordination.
• Communicate in a rational and coherent manner both orally and in writing with individuals of all professions and social levels.
• Respond quickly and in an emotionally controlled manner in emergency situations.
• Adapt effectively to environments with high tension.
• Maintain composure when subjected to high stress levels.
Pregnant students need to have a signed release from their physician stating that they can lift a minimum of 50 pounds, unassisted in order to participate in the clinical portion of class.

Program Costs

Tuition & Fees - $300.00

Other Expenses
Textbook and accompanying workbook - Provided by NO, Inc.
Competency exam after completion Fee - Provided by NO, Inc.
Uniform/scrub - Student responsibility
Physical Exam and TB skin Tests - Student responsibility

General Information

Class Times
Hours of clinical will be on weekends 7:00 am to 3:00 pm for eight days. Please check with your instructor for clinical schedule.

Attendance
The student can ONLY miss a maximum of three of class and four hours of clinical. Any absence exceeding this will require the student to drop from the class. Students MAY NOT miss the first day of class.

Apparel
A white uniform is required for class and clinicals.

Certification
After successful completion of the classroom and clinical portion of the class, students must fill the Nurse Aide Registry for Employment. Those students will then receive certification, which allows them to work in nursing homes, hospitals and home-health care facilities anywhere in Connecticut.

Curriculum for certificate
The program will consist of theory, lab and clinical experience. Classes in W.F. Kaynor typically meet three days a week for three hours a day, for 22 weeks. The program is offered beginning January, ending in June.

Frequently Asked Questions for Nurse Aide:

What skills will I learn?

This program will provide the skills, knowledge, and abilities essential to provide basic care to residents of long-term care facilities. You will learn resident's rights, communication, safety, observation, reporting & assisting residents in maintaining basic comfort and safety.
You will also learn the theory, concepts, and skills involving specialized materials, equipment, procedures, regulations, laws and interactions within and among social systems associated with the nurse aide occupation.

What are the courses?

When do I attend classes?

Program courses meet Tuesday through Friday from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Start date is subject to change to ensure efficient student enrollment.

How long is the program last?

The program length is 22 weeks, 300 hours.

When can I start?

Classes will run every spring semester. An orientation session will be held prior to the start of each registration period.

The goal of the Bilingual C.N.A. Program is to prepare Spanish-speaking, ESL-level (English as a Second Language) students to enter the healthcare field as Certified Nurse Assistant. Our program is designed to meet the growing need for bilingual CNA’s to serve the Hispanic population. The 6 month program includes 60 hours of ESL and 60 hours Life Skills in addition to the curriculum and training necessary for students to take the state licensing exam. All classes will be provided bilingually (English/Spanish) when needed.

The program includes bilingual instruction in nursing subjects, which will progress from Spanish to English to ensure that students acquire the skills, knowledge and English comprehension necessary to pass the state licensing exam. The ESL program provides the foundation to acquire and strengthen written and oral English language skills, with a focus on nursing communications. Students will obtain the skills and knowledge to work as licensed practical nurses in both Spanish and English speaking environments, including hospital settings, long-term care facilities, nursing homes and elder day care centers. Students will be able to document all classroom activities in English.